The "Can't Do Everything" Dilemma

[rachdawn26]

So with the news of Animal Kingdom's parade ending in June, I can't help but feel like the Disney dilemma is surfacing for me again. I've only been to Disney World three times and still haven't seen everything I want. My last trip to AK, I had a fastpass for the Safaris during the parade. This was right when they began enforcing the return fastpass times. I had to make a decision to watch the parade or head to the Safaris to use my fastpass. So I skipped the parade and ended up experiencing one of the best safari rides ever. Lots of animals moving around, rhinos right up next to the cars, that sort of thing.

Now I won't get to see the AK parade because I probably won't be back until 2015. You're always told you can't see everything and that's a reason to come back, but with Disney ending so much entertainment (parades, World Showcase performers), and with my infrequent trips, I feel more than ever I HAVE to do it all or it won't be there next time. I hate that feeling. Anyone else feel that way?

 

[mdsouth]

So with the news of Animal Kingdom's parade ending in June, I can't help but feel like the Disney dilemma is surfacing for me again. I've only been to Disney World three times and still haven't seen everything I want. My last trip to AK, I had a fastpass for the Safaris during the parade. This was right when they began enforcing the return fastpass times. I had to make a decision to watch the parade or head to the Safaris to use my fastpass. So I skipped the parade and ended up experiencing one of the best safari rides ever. Lots of animals moving around, rhinos right up next to the cars, that sort of thing. Now I won't get to see the AK parade because I probably won't be back until 2015. You're always told you can't see everything and that's a reason to come back, but with Disney ending so much entertainment (parades, World Showcase performers), and with my infrequent trips, I feel more than ever I HAVE to do it all or it won't be there next time. I hate that feeling. Anyone else feel that way?

I do. I missed the festival of the lion king show my first two trips and it was my number one thing to do this time. But I didn't get to because they closed it while they are building the new theatre

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I feel that way, too. We got a lot accomplished on our first trip in 2012, but we won't be going back until next year. We also missed the parade at AK. Hopefully, FotLK will be going again by next year. It's at the top of our list of things to see. We also missed out on seeing Fantasmic, The Main Street Electrical Parade, and Wishes from inside Magic Kingdom (we did watch it a couple of times from the Poly beach). We should have eaten at Le Cellier on our first trip because lunch was still just one credit. Now it's two, but we really want to try it!

 

[loislane]

Sometimes I think that's the drawback of boards like this - everyone talks so much about stuff that you have a good idea what it is and what you're missing if you haven't seen it. It's not like going in blind and if you miss something you don't know any better. LOL

I'm the same as you - I've been 3 times and there is still so much I haven't seen yet that I would like to. For this last trip that we took in August, we had 10 days to play around, so everyone made a bucket list for that trip and had them prioritized by "must do" and "would like to do but can wait for another trip" and that helped us tremendously.

 

[MiramarQE]

We got a lot accomplished on our first trip

Accomplished? Keep some perspective - it's a vacation, not work!

We work hard at accomplishing things OUTSIDE Disney - and we used to be park commandos - planning everything like a military operation to ensure we didn't "miss" anything.

We eventually figured out we were missing the point of a vacation - decompression. Enjoy as much of the time you have there as possible - and it's likely not enjoyable to run around in a constant state of stress because you may miss some self-imposed deadline or requirement.

Filling the time with things you can enjoy at Disney isn't all that hard -

Yeah, from one perspective "there's too much to do to get it all in"

Until you try the other perspective "I'm enjoying what I'm doing the whole time I'm on vacation" - try it - you may enjoy it

 

[revdon64]

Accomplished? Keep some perspective - it's a vacation, not work!

We work hard at accomplishing things OUTSIDE Disney - and we used to be park commandos - planning everything like a military operation to ensure we didn't "miss" anything.

We eventually figured out we were missing the point of a vacation - decompression. Enjoy as much of the time you have there as possible - and it's likely not enjoyable to run around in a constant state of stress because you may miss some self-imposed deadline or requirement.

Filling the time with things you can enjoy at Disney isn't all that hard -

Yeah, from one perspective "there's too much to do to get it all in"

Until you try the other perspective "I'm enjoying what I'm doing the whole time I'm on vacation" - try it - you may enjoy it

This... completely.

We've only been a few times and only plan to go every other year or so. We know we'll never see everything and that's OK. We tend to prioritize a few attractions or shows and consider everything that we get to see or experience beyond that as the icing on the cake. I think it's important to focus more on the memories that you're making with your family than all the things that you could have done or that you missed.

 

[omurice]

You can't ever see and experience everything, unless you have super-powers.

But there are Trip Reports on these boards, photo blogs galore, and this wonderful thing the kids call "The YouTubes".
For example Horizons is long gone, but will live forever on YouTube...

 

[BuckeyeBama]

After countless trips I will say, simply, that every trip is different. Enjoy each for what it has to offer. Enjoy the things that you are doing while you are doing them and stop worrying about the things that you don't/won't get to do.

 

[SDTeaGirl]

2012- we went for the first time ever- wanted to see the World Showcase at Epcot- (tour all the world's and learn about them). Didn't have time
2013- we where there for 11 days- we had planned 2 full days at Epcot- the first day we where there we just did the top part of the park and then ate at Biergarten and then candlelight Processional. the day we were to go back to Epcot- we were so sick we tried and we ended up taking turns with a wheelchair to get out of the park- sad, sad! So yes I still didn't get to see all of World Showcase again!

We did:

AK for 1 full day- didn't get to see FOTLK or Finding Nemo the musical- it felt like we really needed another day here to see everything.

HWS- for 1 & 1/2 days(went there the first day we got there so arrived at 3pm) We got to see most of what we wanted to see- but could of done 2 full days here again.

EP- 2 full days- I think we would of seen everything if we didn't get sick

MK-3 full days- Still didn't get to see everything in the 2 days we were there- last day we were to sick to even go- so missed a lot of things we wanted to see.

I am hoping to go back in 2015-2016 if I can talk my DH into going again- Really bad experience at the POP Century Resort with mold in our room and really poor housekeeping- Disney just ignored our problems- so it will take a lot of talking to get my DH to go back.